Device for grouping photographs.



No. 696,272. Patented Mar. 25, 1902. G. G. RODMAN. DEVICE FOR GRDUPING PHOTOGRAPHS.

\Application filed on. 3, 1901.)

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Patented Mar. 25, I902.

a. a. RQDMAN. DEVICE FOR GROUPING PHOTOGRAPHS.

(Application' filed Oct. 15 1901.)

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[KP/25166665 yj UNITED STATES PATENT O EIcE.

GEORGE G. RODMAN, OF WVASHINGTON, IOlVA.

DEVICE FOR GROUPIN G PHOTOGRAPHS.

$PEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,272, dated March 25, 1902. Application filed October 3, 1901. Serial No. 77,447. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. RODMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the county of VVashington and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Grouping Photographs, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to an improvement in devices for grouping photographs, the primary object being, as the title implies, to provide a simple and inexpensive device for grouping and exhibiting photographs and, if desired, cards of various descriptions, the device being such that this can be done tastefully and artistically.

With the foregoing object in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts,which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a'view in perspective of one form of my invention, exhibiting several photographs grouped thereon. Fig. 2 is a view of the same form practically with a shorter standard and Without the photographs. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a form of the invention, showing the disk in section and the corner of a card or photograph inserted beneath it, and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views of slightly-modified forms of my invention. 7

Referring first to the preferred construction, as shown in Fig. 1, Arepresents a block of suitable material and dimensions, preferably round and made of wood of suitable thickness, although, of course, this is not necessary, as other materials might be chosen, if found more desirable. In the center of this block an opening 1 is bored, and in that orifice a thimble 2 may be inserted. This thimble is of a size to just fit the orifice 1, and its outer end lies flush with the surface of the block, while the opposite end of the thimble is slit at intervals and bent outwardly in the form of a flange to engage the rear or opposite surface of the block, whereby the thimble is held secured in the orifice.

13 represents a disk which may be stamped from sheet metal and which preferably is constructed about as shown in the drawings,

although even this exact form is obviously subject to greater or less variation; but, as shown, it is provided at its outer edge with a forwardly-inclined flange 3 and at a point about midway of this flange and the center with a concentric corrugation 4:, which has a double function-first, to give strength and rigidity to the disk as the latter is stamped from thin sheet metal, and, secondly, to afford means for facilitatingthe clamping action upon a photograph or card inserted between the disk and the block.

As a result of a long series of experiments it has been found that a perfectly fiat disk will not hold these photographs or cards as securely and effectually as one of this type. The corrugation provides an annular recess -on the inside surface of the disk, which recess receives an edge or corner of the photograph or card, especially when the disk has been tilted from some other point of engagement by the insertion of a photograph or card thereunder, or due to difierences in the thicknesses of these cards or photographs or other objects held by the device.

The means for retaining the disk in place is some sort of a yielding device, which might be in the form of a spring, rubber, or their equivalent. The means shown in the drawings is a spring of conical form. This spring 5 is housed within the thimble, the larger end engaging the head of the thimble. A bolt 6 passes through a hole 7 in the center of the disk and a hole Sin the center of the thimblehead, and a nut 9 on the end of the bolt bears against the smaller end of the spring, so that the spring is compressed, permitting the disk to yield as objects are inserted between the disk and block. The support of the disk being solely at the center permits the latter to tilt as well as being forced directly and uniformly at all points from the block.

01: course the arrangement of photographs, cards, or other objects beneath the disk is altogether a matter of taste, and it is unnecessary to make any specific reference thereto. It suffices to say that the arrangement and construction of the disk, as heretofore stated, are such that the disk will securely clamp every photograph or card inserted beneath it regardless of varying thicknesses or the fact that two or three are inserted at once and from the same side or at different points, and by the presence of the flange at the periphery of the disk the easy insertion of the photographs or cards is always insured.

The above features constitute the essential elements of my invention, but they may be applied in several different ways, three or four of which I have illustrated, and, first, as shown in Fig. 1, the block A is perhaps twice the diameter of the disk, and to give it a neat appearance it is faced with plush, velvet, or some other textile, so that the block is entirely covered and inclosed, and in this form of the invention the block is mounted on a standard 0, so that the photographs or objects grouped thereon may be placed artistically and conspicuously upon a show-case, mantel, table, or wherever desired.

In Fig. 5 a plate D is secured on the back of the block, with holes d d therein for fastening it to a desk, window-casing, or other convenient support. When thus constructed, it mightbe used for holding letters, envelops, bill-heads, or as a paper-weight, or for any other purpose to which it might be desired to apply it.

Figs. 6 and 7 are slightly-modified forms in which a bail 12 is pivoted or hinged to the back of the block, and in Fig. 6 it is swung upward to constitute a suspensory device or hanger, whereas in Fig. 7 it isswung in the opposite direction to make the device serve as an easel.

Of course other applications of the device are possible, and it is needless to enumerate more, because the same essential elements would be common to them all.

In conclusion,to briefly recapitulate, the device is composed of the least possible number of elements; they are compactly arranged, and the more delicate parts, such as the spring and threaded end of the bolt, are housed within the aperture in the block,where they are completely covered and free from obstacles. By virtue of the conical formation of the spring the greatest possible expansion is possible. By constructing the disk as describedthat is to say, flanged and corrugatedall thicknesses of cards can be inserted beneath it, whereas a thick card could not be placed beneath a perfectly flat disk. Owing to the disk being held by round bolt and at its center, it is possible to adjust the entire group of photographs at once around the bolt as a center. This is often desirable when the position of the group is not precisely correct in the first instance.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a device for grouping photographs and other objects consisting of a block and a corrugated and flanged disk rotatably and yieldingly connected with said block whereby to grip an object held between it and the block.

2. The combination with a block having an aperture at its center, a thimble held in the aperture with its outer ends flush with the surfaces of the block,one end being perforated at its center and the other outwardly flanged, of a disk having an inclining flange at its periphery and a perforation at its center, a bolt passing through the perforation in the disk and thimble, a conical spiral spring mounted on the bolt and located within the aperture of the block with its larger end against the head of the thimble and a nut adapted to screw on the thread of the bolt whereby to regulate the tension of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. G. RODHAN.

\Vitnesses:

ALFRED B. DENT, VERNON E. HODGES. 

